Bowl Game Schedule 2014-15: Odds and TV Listings for All Remaining Games
Bowl season has begun with a punch—quite literally, in one instance—as many of the early postseason games have exceeded the hype, and the slate is only heating up with more enticing battles.
There's been an overtime classic ending in a brawl with BYU and Memphis in the Miami Beach Bowl. That was only topped Wednesday, when Central Michigan came back from a 35-point deficit against Western Kentucky on a 75-yard last-second razzle-dazzle play—only to lose on a failed two-point conversion for the win.
Nothing may live up to that sort of ending, but the implications of these games and typical unpredictability of college football guarantee more classics are on the way.
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Gear up for what's to come by taking a look below.
| Dec. 26 | Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl | Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech (-6) | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 26 | Quick Lane Bowl | Rutgers vs. North Carolina (-3) | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 26 | BITCOIN St. Petersburg Bowl | NC State vs. UCF (-2.5) | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 27 | Military Bowl | Virginia Tech vs. Cincinnati (-2.5) | 1 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 27 | Hyundai Sun Bowl | Duke vs. Arizona State (-7.5) | 2 p.m. | CBS |
| Dec. 27 | Duck Commander Independence Bowl | Miami (-3.5) vs. South Carolina | 3:30 p.m. | ABC |
| Dec. 27 | New Era Pinstripe Bowl | Boston College (-2.5) vs. Penn State | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 27 | National University Holiday Bowl | Nebraska vs. USC (-7) | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 29 | AutoZone Liberty Bowl | West Virginia (-3.5) vs. Texas A&M | 2 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 29 | Russell Athletic Bowl | Clemson vs. Oklahoma (-3.5) | 5:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 29 | AdvoCare Texas Bowl | Texas vs. Arkansas (-6) | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 30 | Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl | Notre Dame vs. LSU (-7) | 3 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 30 | Belk Bowl | Louisville vs. Georgia (-6.5) | 6:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 30 | Foster Farms Bowl | Maryland vs. Stanford (-14) | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 31 | Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl | Ole Miss vs. TCU (-3) | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 31 | Vizio Fiesta Bowl | Boise State vs. Arizona (-3) | 4 p.m. | ESPN |
| Dec. 31 | Capital One Orange Bowl | Mississippi State (-7) vs. Georgia Tech | 8 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 1 | Outback Bowl | Wisconsin vs. Auburn (-6.5) | 12 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Jan. 1 | Goodyear Cotton Bowl | Michigan State vs. Baylor (-2.5) | 12:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 1 | Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl | Minnesota vs. Missouri (-5) | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| Jan. 1 | Rose Bowl Game | Oregon (-9) vs. Florida State | 5 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 1 | Allstate Sugar Bowl | Alabama (-9) vs. Ohio State | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 2 | Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl | Pittsburgh (-3) vs. Houston | 12 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 2 | TaxSlayer Bowl | Iowa vs. Tennessee (-3.5) | 3:20 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 2 | Valero Alamo Bowl | Kansas State vs. UCLA (-1.5) | 6:45 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 2 | Cactus Bowl | Oklahoma State vs.Washington (-5.5) | 10:15 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 3 | Birmingham Bowl | Florida (-6.5) vs. East Carolina | 1 p.m. | ESPN2 |
| Jan. 4 | GoDaddy Bowl | Toledo (-4) vs. Arkansas State | 9 p.m. | ESPN |
| Jan. 12 | College Football Championship Game | TBD | 8:30 p.m. | ESPN |
Note: Odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated December 24
Most Exciting Bowl Games
Cotton Bowl: Michigan State vs. Baylor
The Baylor Bears were arguably snubbed for the final spot in the College Football Playoff, but they'll get a chance to prove their worth in the Cotton Bowl against Michigan State.
Nobody finished closer to the CFP party than the fifth-ranked Bears, but they face a Spartans team that can also boast a strong superlative. They're the only team whose only two losses this season came to teams that made the four-team playoff—Oregon and Ohio State.
Just like in those two games, Michigan State will go up against a high-octane offense that has proven impossible to stop. It all starts with Baylor senior quarterback Bryce Petty, who has tossed 26 touchdowns and has 3,305 yards passing on the season.
The Bears have some play-calling kinks to work out with offensive coordinator Philip Montgomery taking the Tulsa head coaching job, but Art Briles explained to Detroit Free Press' Joe Rexrode how they would work past that:
Just like in years past, the Spartans defense has been huge in the team's wins—but uncharacteristic struggles have followed. They have allowed 31 or more points three times this season, including 46 or more to both Oregon and Ohio State.
Petty has the weapons in the deep passing game to stretch the defense, but rushers Shock Linwood and Johnny Jefferson (1,750 yards, 22 TDs combined) will open up the middle of the field if not. Connor Cook boasts an underrated offense for Michigan State that should hang with them, but it will take a big-time performance from him to lift Sparty.
Liberty Bowl: West Virginia at Texas A&M
Two teams that expected higher outcomes in 2014 before late struggles will battle in the Liberty Bowl, and the fireworks are certain with Texas A&M and West Virginia in attendance.
Few schools boast the Aggies' wealth at the skill position, allowing for two different quarterbacks to have huge success during stretches this season. The latest is Kyle Allen, the freshman with over 850 yards in four games since taking over the starting job.
A brutal SEC slate beat Texas A&M up with two losses to end the year, but it faces a West Virginia team that dropped three of four down the stretch. Despite the tough finish, the Mountaineers can put up points with the best of them.
Clint Trickett has thrown for 3,200 yards on the season and figures to do more against an Aggie defense that has allowed 28 or more on seven occasions this season. Kevin White will want to make a lasting impression in his final college game, showing he deserved more consideration for the Biletnikoff Award that was rightly Amari Cooper's.
The level of the stage—or lack of one—guarantees to be the biggest factor, however. At one point this year, both teams had much higher expectations than the Liberty Bowl, but neither team can afford to come in with its head in offseason mode.
Whichever defense avoids that mindset the most has the best chance of slowing down the other.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
